<p>Well I'm a structural engineering student at UCSD and my goal is to obtain a thesis masters then eventually work for a firm designing high-rise buildings (through time and licenses ofcourse). </p>
<p>My main concern is which material should I focus on for graduate school? Steel or Concrete. Of course I'd take courses in both and other subjects but I don't know what subject to research since most professors focus on either one or the other. </p>
<p>The thing is, I haven't taken any design courses and we aren't scheduled to take them until our 4th year (here at UCSD) but I'd like to apply my 4th year. So I'm left with reading articles and trying figure out my interests that way.
From the articles I've read it sounds like concrete is genearlly but not exclusively used for residential buildings while steel for office buildings.</p>
<p>It sounds like the concrete industry is on the rise for several reasons like it's fireproofing qualities (especially in NYC). It is also used in other countries because steel is expensive to ship. </p>
<p>Well, what I couldn't really find was information in the steel industry. Is steel projected to become obsolete or will they be staying?</p>
<p>You can get into a pretty long discussion about steel vs. concrete, but the short answer is no, steel will never be obsolete. Concrete doesn't have the ductility that you need in certain applications, and you can't get the same length of unsupported spans. Bridges, stadiums, all need steel. </p>
<p>This sounds like an awfully specific question for civil engineering here. It's probably something you can ask your advisor.</p>
<p>Also, just because you do research in steel doesn't mean you won't work with concrete when you go into industry. I met someone who did his doctorate in one area of structural engineering and never touched it again once he went to work. You'll have the skills to work with both, and the one you use won't be your choice ultimately; it'll be the client's.</p>
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It sounds like the concrete industry is on the rise for several reasons...Is steel projected to become obsolete or will they be staying?
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If you are really concerned with materials obsolescence, switch to geotechnical engineering. The geotechs claim that no less than 100% of the terrestrial structures designed or constructed during during the past ten thousand years have relied on soil or rock as a foundation material, and this trend shows no sign of abating.</p>